Temple Sculpture of Kerala

Temple Sculpture of Kerala

Temple sculpture of Kerala exhibit diverse influences of Pandya, Chola and Vijaynagara Kingdoms. The Sculpture developed a separate style from fourth century onwards.

Temples of Kerala contain exquisite sculptures, particularly in stone which exhibit diverse influences of various ruling kingdoms. The wood carvings in Kerala temples are masterpieces. There are two divisions as far as the sculptural work is concerned: One is the low relief done on the outer walls of the shrine. The second is the sculpturing of the timber elements - the rafter ends, the brackets, the timber columns and their capitals, door frames and beams. Decorative sculptural work is seen in the ceiling panels of the mandapas. All sculptural works were done in accordance to the canons of proportions (ashtathala, navathala and dasathala system) applicable to different figures of men, gods and goddesses, prescribed in texts. Sculpture is done vertically in order to emphasize the different storey heights. The sculptured walls are protected by the projecting caves. These caves keep them in shade.

The Kuthambalam Mandapas have puranic figures carved on wood. Haripad Subrahmania Temple, Sri Vallabha Temple at Thiruvalla, Triprayar Rama Temple has exquisite wood carvings. Thiruvanathapuram Sree Padmanabhaswami temple, Kumaranalloor temple, Ettumanur temple, Kazhakkoottam Mahadeva, Kaviyoor Mahadeva, Irinjalakkuda Koodalmanikya Swami, Kodungalloor Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy, Thiruvanchikkulam Shiva, Kudamaloor Vasudevapuram, Parumala Panayannarkavu, Thirumandhamkunnu, Thrissur Vadakkunathan temple, Aranmula Parthasarathy, Thuravoor, Kadinamkulam Mahadeva, Vaikom Mahadeva, Pazhoor Perumthrukkovil Mahadeva, Udayamperoor Ekadasi Perumthrukkovil Mahadeva, Kidangoor Subrahmanya, Arppookkara Subrahmanya, Chiravammuttam Mahadeva, Cheriyanadu Balasubrahmanya, Pundareekapuram Vishnu, Navaikkulam Shankaranarayana and Kandiyoor Mahadeva temples are known for murals and wooden sculptures.

The platforms in Thiruvanathapuram Sree Padmanabha Swami temple which is front of the vimanam and the place where the deity rests are carved out of a single massive stone and hence called "Ottakkal-mandapam. The foundation of the present gopuram was laid in 1566 that is made in the Pandyan style. The temple has a corridor and one-quarter sculptured granite-stone pillars with elaborate carvings.

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple has exquisite sculptures and carvings. The story of Ramayana has been sculptured on the inner roof of the Namaskara Mandapa. On the east of this hall is a huge Nandi (the celestial bull) made in a single stone and a small one for Archana. The outer walls of Sreekovil are decorated with wooden sculptures and stories from Puranas.

The minute ornamentation of the sculptures of Kerala is similar to that of the Hoysala tradition of Karnataka. The tradition of stone sculptures rose to great heights as is evident from the reliefs and pillar decorations in the balikkal-mandapa. It depicts local features though grafted on the Nayaka tradition.

There are several Jain monuments in Kerala. It includes rock shelters at Chitral near Nagercoil, a rock cut temple at Kallil near Perumbavoor, and remains of structural temples at Alathoor near Palakkad and at Sultanbathery. Sculptured Kerala Jaina and Dravidian figures of Mahavira, Parswanatha and other thirthankaras have been recovered. The pillared facade and the walls inside the ardhamandapa of rock cut temples have sculptured reliefs of the donor, a beared rishi, a seated four armed Ganesh and dwarapalas.

In the southernmost Kerala, the temple architecture has been influenced by the developments in Tamil Nadu. At Sucheendram and Thiruvananthapuram lofty enclosures, sculptured corridors and ornate mandapas all in granite stone conceal the view of the original main shrine in typical Kerala style.

Recently Updated Articles in Indian Sculpture


•	Chalukya Sculptures Chalukya sculptures evolved a new idiom for the construction of several temples and are renowned for their exquisite architectural marvels.

•	South Indian Sculptures Types of South Indian Sculptures are categorized with the social and religious life of Hindus during the rule of Pallavas, Cholas and Rashtrakutas.

•	Temple Sculpture of Khajuraho Temple Sculpture of Khajuraho is composed of finely grained stone; this temple pragmatically endorses the eroticism. Khajuraho Temple is located in Central India in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

•	Sculpture of Konark Temple The temple is designed to achieve the shape of a colossal chariot with seven horses and twelve wheels of the Sun God. The temple of the Sun at Konark is magnificent in its construction and if often referred to as the “Black Pagoda”.

•	Saptamatrika Sculptures of South India The Saptamatrika is a South Indian sculpture that is said to contain energies of the deities of the Hindu pantheon. Saptamatrika Sculptures of South India dates back to 3rd century B.C. In most of the ancient temples of South India, the sculptures of the Saptamatrikas are found.

E-magazine

Subscribe to E-Magazine on Art & Culture